Donald Trump, fmr US presidents pay tribute to McCain

US President Donald Trump and his predecessors, former presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter, have paid tributes in memory of John McCain who died on Saturday.

McCain, 81, a Republican Senator representing Arizona at the congress since 1982, died after battling brain cancer.

Eulogies from liberal and conservative figures alike have been pouring in.

The family announced in a statement: “Senator John Sidney McCain III died at 4:28 p.m. on August 25, 2018. With the Senator when he passed were his wife Cindy and their family. At his death, he had served the United States of America faithfully for sixty years.”

Trump, in a tweet on Saturday evening, said: “My deepest sympathies and respect go out to the family of Senator John McCain. Our hearts and prayers are with you!”

The late Arizona Republican had organised his funeral, and close associates had told the White House in May that he did not want Trump to be invited.

Instead, Vice President Mike Pence, who served with McCain in Congress, would be asked to attend the service, at the ceremony that would be held at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.

Mr Pence, in a tweet on Mr McCain’s death, said: “Karen and I send our deepest condolences to Cindy and the entire McCain family on the passing of Senator John McCain. We honour his lifetime of service to this nation in our military and in public life. …”

Speaker Paul Ryan also in a tweet said: “John McCain was a giant of our time – not just for the things he achieved, but for who he was and what he fought for all his life. He will always be listed among freedom’s most gallant and faithful servants”.

Mr Obama, who ran against and defeated Mr McCain in the 2008 presidential election, said in a statement that all Americans were in debt of the late senator.

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